221

ALEXANDRU MADGEARU
*


A STICK WITH DOVE HEAD FOUND AT
HALMYRIS



Abstract: n depozitul Institutului de Cercetri Eco-Muzeale din Tulcea se pstreaz o baghet
fragmentar de bronz, descoperit n cursul spturilor arheologice de la Halmyris (nr. inv. 39.645).
Ea are lungimea total de 110 mm i un profil ptrat cu latura de 3 mm. El este ornamentat cu incizii
care imit penajul. Se disting ochii i ciocul. Obiecte similare s-au descoperit n mai multe situri din
Bulgaria, Serbia, Ungaria, Romnia, Spania i Germania. Cele ntregi au la captul opus o verig.
Dei nu tim nimic despre contextul stratigrafic din care provine acest obiect de la Halmyris,
considerm necesar studierea lui, din cauza raritii acestor baghete. Pn n prezent, n Dobrogea
s-a mai descoperit, din cte cunoatem, doar un singur exemplar n afara celui de la Halmyris, i
anume la Ulmetum. Bagheta semnalat la Troesmis de ctre Octavian Bozu n studiul la care ne vom
referi mai jos, conform informaiilor date de Florin Topoleanu, este de fapt cea de la Halmyris.

Keywords: stick, religious, christianity



In the depository of the Institute for Eco-Museal Researches from Tulcea is
preserved a fragmentary bronze stick, found during the archaeological excavations
at Halmyris (nr. 39.645). The object has a total length of 110 mm and a quadrate
section of 3 x 3 mm. The profile becomes rhombic toward the upper part (7 mm
diameter). The end of this upper part is decorated with a dove placed on a base
high of 8 mm. The length of the stick without the dove is 87 mm. The dove is 18
mm length and 13 mm high, and it is decorated with incisions that represent the
plumage. The eyes and the beak are also figured (Fig. 1 and 2).
Similar objects were found in several places from Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary,
Romania, Spain, France and Germany. The entire pieces have a link at the opposite
end. Although we do not know the stratigraphic context of this object from
Halmyris, we consider that it deserves a study, because such pieces are quite rare.
In Dobrudja was found only one more stick, at Ulmetum. The piece mentioned at
Troesmis by Octavian Bozu in the paper quoted below, according to an oral
information provided by Florin Topoleanu, is in fact the same with that from
Halmyris.
The first study dedicated to these sticks was written by Hermann Vetters, who
discussed the seven pieces found at Sadovec during Ivan Velkovs excavations in

*
Institutul de Cercetri Militare Bucureti, e-mail: amadgearu@yahoo.com.
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222
the 1930s
1
. He pointed to several analogies in Spain, Germany and Switzerland,
reaching the conclusion that the sticks with dove were transported by the Goths
from Danube to these regions, and that they represent the bird of the soul, a
funeral symbol. The symbol of the bird was considered by Vetters an element of
Scytho-Sarmatian origin. Most of the sticks known by Vetters are dated in the 6
th

century.
2
Some of them have pairs of doves. The sticks were produced by casting
in moulds. In Spain, at Cacabelos, was found a mould for sticks (Fig. 3).
3

A religious significance was also proposed by ore Jankovi, who has
ascribed the sticks to the believers of the Bonosiac heresy, recorded in large
number until the 6
th
century around Aquis in Dacia Ripensis, an area where many
such sticks were found. Jankovi supposed that these sticks were put on the neck
instead of the crosses
4
. This heresy was initiated by the bishop Bonosus of Naissus
at the end of the 4
th
century (he sustained that Mary did not remain always virgin
and it seems that he also denied the divine nature of Jesus Christ). The heresy
found followers not only in Dacia Mediterranea, but also in other Balkan
provinces, as well as in Hispania, Gallia and Burgundy. Bishop Niceta of
Remesiana fought against this heresy
5
.
The idea of Jankovi was assumed by Nelu Zugravu, first in relation with a
piece found at Craiova, and next in his book on the heresies spread in the Danubian
provinces
6
. I accepted without criticism this interpretations in some previous
studies
7
, but now I reject it, because two such sticks (Fig. 4) were discovered in a
closed context dated before 245, at Romula, in a building destroyed by the inroad
of the Carpi of 245
8
. It is clear that the dove sticks appeared much time before the
Bonosiac heresy. Even if they would have a significance related to the Christianity,
they could not be considered insignia of the believers of this heresy.
Ovidiu Bozu, who discovered four sticks in the collections of the Timioara
Museum, proposed another significance, following the interpretation of a lot of

1
I. Welkov, Eine Gotenfestung bei Sadowetz (Nordbulgarien), Germania, 19, 1935, p. 154.
2
H. Vetters, Der Vogel auf der Stange, ein Kultzeichen, Jahreshefte des sterreichischen
Archologischen Institutes in Wien, 37, 1948, p. 131-150.
3
Ibidem, p. 134, 135, fig. 32/17.
4
D. Jankovi, Podunavski deo oblasti Akvisa u VI i poetkom VII veka (La partie danubienne de la
rgion d'Aquis au VIe sicle et au dbut du VIIe sicle), Beograd, 1981, p. 176-177, 221.
5
A. Baudrillart (ed.), Dictionnaire d'histoire et de gographie ecclsiastiques, vol. 9, Paris, 1937, col.
1093, 1094, 1096; M. Mirkovi, Die christliche Kirche und das Christentum in den zentralillyrischen
Provinzen im 4. und 6. Jahrhundert, in A. B. Biernacki, P. Pawlak (ed.), Late Roman and Early
Byzantine Cities on the Lower Danube from the 4th to the 6th century AD (International Conference
Poznan, 15-17 November 1995), Poznan, 1997, p. 50-51, 56; N. Zugravu, Erezii i schisme la
Dunrea Mijlocie i de Jos n mileniul I, Iai, 1999, p. 80-81.
6
N. Zugravu, Geneza cretinismului popular al romnilor, Bucureti, 1997, p. 291, 299, 314
(footnote 140), 319 (nota 229), 423-424; Idem, Erezii..., p. 81.
7
A. Madgearu, The Spreading of the Christianity in the rural areas of post-Roman Dacia (4th-7th
centuries), Archaevs. tudes d'histoire des religions, 8, 2004, 1-4, p. 46; Idem, The 6th Century
Lower Danubian Bridgeheads: Location and Mission, Ephemeris Napocensis, 13, 2003 (2005), p.
308.
8
Gh. Popilian, Un quartier artisanal Romula, Dacia, NS, 20, 1976, p. 243.
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223
similar pieces made of bone found in several early Roman cemeteries and
settlements from other provinces, studied by the Swiss archaeologist Gerd G.
Knik. He argued that the sticks were in fact distaffs. The link was used to insert
the finger. The bone sticks were decorated at the opposite end with a representation
of Venus
9
. In Dobrudja, bone sticks with the figure of Venus were found at
Dinogetia and Callatis
10
. On the other hand, O. Bozu agreed that the dove sticks
had a Christian significance, because they were used by Christian women
11
. In the
monograph of the fortifications from Sadovec, Syna Uenze and Joachim Werner
were too convinced that these sticks are a kind of Christian amulets
12
.
The interpretation proposed by O. Bozu for the use of the sticks seems to be
convincing, but we cannot exclude that they were hair pins.
Since in the Roman symbolism, the dove was associated with Venus
13
, its
presence on an object used by women before Christianity is normal. The dove was
a substitute for the representation of the goddess. After Christianization, the same
symbol of the dove was preserved because it was associated with another
significance, the Holy Spirit descended to Christ at His baptism by Saint John. The
dove was also a symbol of the divine peace (the dove that brought the olive bough
to Noah).
14
We consider that this is the explanation of the appearance of the sticks
with dove. They were initially variants of the bone sticks, were Venus was replaces
with her attribute, the dove. Women continued to use these sticks, but the
significance of the dove became different after the free spreading of the
Christianity. This is only one case when Greek, Roman and other heathen symbols
and customs were Christianized. The dove sticks were not tokens of an Orthodox
or Heretic believe, but they bear a Christian symbol. In some cases they are
decorated with crosses, or they have small crosses attached with chains
15
. An
analogy are the Sucidava type buckles decorated with pierced crosses which were
not religious tokens. In both cases, one specific for women and other for men, a
Christian symbol was applied on an object used for a specific purpose, but this did
not transformed the objects in tokens that expressed the belonging to Christianity,
like did the pectoral crosses that had no other function.

9
G. G. Knik, Die Fingerkunkel aus Grab 156, in K. Roth-Rubi, H. Rudolf Sennhauser (ed.),
Verenamnster Zurzach. Ausgrabungen und Bauuntersuchung, vol. 1. Rmische Strasse und Grber,
Zrich, 1987, p. 129-137.
10
Gh. tefan, Dinogetia, I. Risultati della prima campagna di scavi, Dacia, 7-8, 1937-1940 (1941),
p. 414, fig. 22 (p. 417); C. Preda, Callatis. Necropola romano-bizantin, Bucureti, 1980, p. 63, 159,
Pl. 29/1, 3.
11
O. Bozu, Obiecte cretine inedite de uz casnic. Furcile de tors pentru deget datate n secolele IV-VI
e.n., Analele Banatului, SN, Arheologie-Istorie, 2, 1993, p. 208-209.
12
S. Uenze, Die sptantiken Befestigungen von Sadovec (Bulgarien). Ergebnisse der deutsch-
bulgarisch-sterreichische Ausgrabungen (1934-1937), I, Mnchen, 1992, p. 199, 412.
13
H. Biedermann, Knaurs Lexikon der Symbole, Mnchen, 1998, p. 1084.
14
F. Cabrol, H. Leclercq (ed.), Dictionnaire d'archologie chrtienne et de liturgie, vol. III/2, Paris,
1914, col. 2203.
15
V. Ljubenova, Seliteto ot rimskata i rannovizantijskata epokha, in J. angova (ed.), Pernik, vol. I.
Poselien ivot na chlma krakra ot V chil. pr. n.e. do VI v. na n. e., Sofia, 1981, p. 192, fig. 133; S.
Uenze, op. cit., Taf. 4/9.
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224
The doves sticks presented in the following list were found in the Middle and
Lower Danubian regions, sometimes in contexts that are showing that they were
produced and used up to the 6
th
century.
1 - Asparukhovo, Varna Region, Bulgaria. Fragment long of 108 mm.
16

2 - Bela Voda, Pernik Region, Bulgaria. Five pieces from a lot of metallic
objects hidden in the 6
th
century in the ruins of a villa rustica dated on the
3
rd
-4
th
centuries, used as raw material for a workshop. The date of the
deposit is given by a Sucidava buckle decorated with cross and crescent.
17

3 - Bozveliysko, Varna Region, Bulgaria. A fragment long of 86 mm and a
dove from another stick.
18

4 - Cariin Grad (Justiniana Prima), Jablanica District, Serbia. A fragment
long of 72 mm, found in a building near the basilica from the lower town
19
.
5 - Celei (Sucidava), Corabia, Olt County, Romania. An entire stick without
known dimensions, found in the garbage pit 2 / 2000 together with a
bronze coin from the 4
th
or from the 6
th
century.
20

6 - Craiova, Dolj County, Romania. An entire stick long of 182 mm, found in
the settlement from point Fntna Obedeanu dated in the 5
th
and 6
th

centuries, in the filling earth of dwelling 2.
21

7 - Dbravino, Varna Region, Bulgaria. A fragment long of 41 mm
22
.
8 - Gamzigrad, Zajear District, Serbia. Three pieces from the 4
th
century
palace.
23

9 - Gole, Silistra Region, Bulgaria. An entire stick long of 168 mm, found in
a fortress dated between the 4
th
and the 6
th
century, in a fountain near a
tower, with objects from the 4
th
-5
th
centuries. From another stick are
preserved two fragments with total length of 170 mm.
24


16
L. Lazarov, Dreven bronz. Katalog (Ancient bronze. Katalog), Dlgopol, 2001, p. 50, nr. 95 (p.
152).
17
V. Ljubenova, Bronzovi predmeti ot ksnoantinata vila pri rudnik "Bela Voda", Pernik (Objets de
bronze de la villa de la basse antiquit situe prs de la mine "Bela Voda", Pernik), Arheologija,
Sofia, 37, 1995, 3, p. 13, fig. 12.
18
Ibidem, p. 50, nr. 97, 98 (p. 151-152).
19
V. Kondi, V. Popovi, Cariin Grad. Utvrdjeno naselje u vizantijskom Iliriku (Cariin Grad. Site
fortifi dans l'Illyricum byzantin), Beograd, 1977, p. 399, nr. 59, Pl. XVI/4.
20
P. Gherghe, L. Amon, D. Liciu, F. Bciu, Corabia, jud. Olt [Sucidava], in Cronica cercetrilor
arheologice. Campania 2000, Suceava, 2001, nr. 52, p. 75.
21
Gh. Popilian, M. Nica, Aezarea prefeudal de la Craiova (Fntna Obedeanu), Drobeta, 15,
2005, p. 150-151, 154-155 pl. VI/5.
22
L. Lazarov, op. cit., p. 50, nr. 96 (p. 152).
23
D. Srejovi (ed.), Gamzigrad. An Imperial Palace of the Late Classical Times. Ausstellungskatalog,
Beograd, 1983, p. 138, nr. 186-188 (apud S. Uenze, op. cit., p. 412, footnote 17).
24
G. Atanasov, Martyrium et Agiasmon dans le castel basbyzantin prs du village de Golech, rgion
de Silistra (communication prliminaire), in Von der Scythia zur Dobruda, hrsg. Ch. Choliolev, R.
Pillinger, R. Harreither (Miscellanea Bulgarica, 11), Wien, 1997, p. 127, 128, fig. 5/11, 12 (p. 138);
Idem, De nouveau sur la localisation de la forteresse bas-byzantine St. Cyril en Scythie Mineure, in
Prinos lui Petre Diaconu la 80 de ani. Volum ngrijit de I. Cndea, V. Srbu, M. Neagu, Brila, 2004,
p. 417, fig. 6.
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225
10 - Gornea Cunia de Sus, Cara-Severin County, Romania. A fragment
without dove, long of 175 mm, found in section I in the 4
th
century
castellum.
25

11 - Hrlec (Augusta), Vratza Region, Bulgaria. Several sticks (at least one
being decorated with a cross on the dove backside) found in a tower of the
fortress, with 6
th
century objects.
26

12 - Kjustendil (Pautalia), Kjustendil Region, Bulgaria. A fragment long of
120 mm, decorated on one side with a rosette.
27

13 - Kladovo-Donje Butorke, Bor District, Serbia. An entire stick long of 193
mm
28
.
14 - Mokranjske Stene, Bor District, Serbia. A fragment long of 100 mm
29
.
15 - Murighiol (Halmyris), Tulcea County, Romania. A fragment long of 110
mm, found in unknown conditions in the Late Roman fortress.
16 - Orova (?), Cara-Severin County, Romania. Four pieces preserved in the
Museum of Timioara, most probably found at Dierna (Orova). Two
entire sticks are long of 178 and 190 mm, while from other two are
preserved only the doves.
30

17 - Pantelimonul de Sus (Ulmetum), Constana County, Romania. An entire
stick long of 130 mm, found in a tower of the southwestern gate, together
with coins from Constantius II and Valens
31
.
18 - Pernik, Pernik Region, Bulgaria. Five entire pieces and eight fragments.
One of them has a cross attached to the link
32
.
19 - Popina, Silistra Region, Bulgaria. An entire stick long of 170 mm, found
in a 4
th
century grave together with a fibula with onion heads.
33

20 - Prahovo, Bor District, Serbia. An entire stick long of 200 mm, two dove
fragments and three fragments that preserved the link.
34

21 - Reca (Romula), Olt County, Romania. Two fragments long of 122 mm
and 53 mm, both decorated with a dove, found in a building destroyed
during the attack of the Carpi in 245
35
.


25
N. Gudea, Gornea. Aezri de epoc roman i roman trzie, Reia, 1977, p. 84, fig. 50/16; O.
Bozu, op. cit., p. 206, fig. 1/5.
26
Apud Gh. Popilian, M. Nica, op. cit., p. 154.
27
I. Ivanov, Kiustendilskijat Hisarlk i negovite starini, Izvestija na Arheologieskija Institut,
Sofia, 7, 1920, p. 105, fig. 76.
28
D. Jankovi, op. cit., p. 252, Pl. XVIII/7.
29
D. Jankovi, op. cit., p. 252, Pl. XVIII/6.
30
O. Bozu, op. cit., p. 206, fig. 1/1-4.
31
Gh. Papuc, C. Bjenaru, Z. Covacef .a., Pantelimonu de Sus, com. Pantelimon, jud. Constana
[Ulmetum], in Cronica cercetrilor arheologice din Romnia. Campania 2006, Tulcea, 2007, p. 260.
32
V. Ljubenova, op. cit., p. 191-192, fig. 132-133.
33
. Varova, Slaviano-blgarskoto selite krai selo Popina Silistrenko, Sofia, 1956, p. 27, fig. 18
(p. 27).
34
D. Jankovi, op. cit., p. 252, Pl. XVIII/1, 3, 4, 8, 11, 12.
35
Gh. Popilian, Un quartier..., p. 243, fig. 13/12, 13.
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226
22 - Royak, Varna Region, Bulgaria. Two fragments long of 169 mm and 192
mm. One of them has two face to face doves.
36

23 - Sadovec, Pleven Region, Bulgaria. Two entire sticks long of 210 mm and
195 mm, and 11 fragments (one made of silver, from which only the dove
was preserved). Discovered in the fortifications ascribed to the Gothic
foederati, Sadovsko Kale and Golemanovo Kale.
37

24 - Szekszrd, Tolna County, Hungary. An entire stick with unknown
dimensions, found in the women grave nr. 79 from an early Avarian
cemetery.
38





Fig. 1: The stick from Halmyris.


36
L. Lazarov, op. cit., p. 49, nr. 93, 94.
37
S. Uenze, op. cit., p. 528-529, Taf. 4/9, 5/1-6, 6/1-5, 122/10.
38
G. Rosner, Das awarenzeitliche Grberfeld im Szekszrd-Bogyszli Strasse, Budapest, 1999, p. 19,
Taf. 6/79/1 (p. 172).
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227

Fig. 2: The dove head of the stick from Halmyris.

Fig. 3: Moukd for sticks (Cacabelos, Spain), after H. Vetters, op. cit., fig. 32/17.

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Fig. 4: The sticks from Romula, after Gh. Popilian, Un quartier..., p. 243, fig.
13/12, 13.
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229

Fig. 5: The sticks from 1- Gole (after G. Atanasov, Martyrium..., fig. 5/11, 12), 2-
Sadovec (after S. Uenze, op. cit., Taf. 6/1,2), 3- Orova (after O. Bozu, op. cit., fig.
1/3-4).
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230


Fig. 6: Map.
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